#027. When Flames Meet Flames (1)
An abandoned factory on the outskirts of Sector 49.
Creak──
The massive iron gates swung open with a metallic screech.
A rough voice called out from behind Ray as he stood before the entrance:
“How’s it feel? Nervous enough to die? Too late for regrets now.”
A blatant attempt to assert dominance.
“Get in─.”
Thud.
But Ray had already stepped inside before the words fully left the speaker’s mouth.
He hadn’t paid the slightest attention to the boys guiding him from the start.
“H-hey! That’s him!”
“Let him be. Let’s see how long the cripple can keep up his act.”
Ray ignored the voices, focusing instead on the transformed interior.
The layout had changed since his last visit.
The central furniture—beds, chairs—had been pushed aside, replaced by a drum-encircled arena.
Each drum stood large enough to hold a grown man.
Beyond them, makeshift bleachers built from stacked crates overflowed with boys staring intently.
Step. Step.
Every footstep toward the arena drew waves of hostile curiosity.
‘At least a hundred spectators.’
Cedric’s gang wasn’t the only group present—plenty had come from other factions too.
Not a single ally here.
Yet Ray remained calm.
The red gems in his pocket saw to that.
Ray recalled yesterday morning’s bookstore visit:
「“Sorry. Grandpa’s still asleep... His condition’s worsened. He’d normally be awake by now...”」
Veronica’s tear-streaked face suggested she’d been crying hard before emerging.
When Ray patted her shoulder, her trembling gradually stilled.
「“Better?”」
「“Yeah. Thanks.”」
After mechanically comforting her, Ray cut to his questions—the old man’s protégé might provide answers:
「“Know what this is?”」
「“A... gem?”」
Veronica turned the red stone in her hands. 「“It’s a charge stone. Acts like a mana battery.”」
「“Battery? Like storing power?”」
「“Yes, but with mana instead of electricity.”」
It aligned with Ray’s assumptions.
While inferior to true cores, these stones allowed controlled use of refined mana.
「“Can’t use them forever. Repeated charging shortens their lifespan. Elemental affinities vary too...”」
「“But they store higher-quality mana than ambient energy?”」
「“Right. But Grandpa said even refined mana causes poisoning. Best to minimize use.”」
Irrelevant advice for Ray.
He nodded absently. 「“Cases where their power amplifies?”」
「“Rare special circumstances, I’ve heard. Grandpa would know...”」
A question aimed at Cedric’s ring.
No answer yet, but confirming the stones’ nature sufficed.
「“Any more rock-throwers since last time?”」
「“None! The last was when Grandpa...”」
Ray left after her answer.
He spent the day limping conspicuously through the sector before retreating.
Clink.
The gems’ faint chime snapped Ray from his thoughts.
Four stones total.
He’d already gauged each one’s mana capacity and efficiency.
Using ambient red mana typically drained his focus in ten minutes.
The stones changed everything.
They sustained enhanced magic longer and stronger.
Creak-Clang!
The gates slammed shut behind him.
Dimming light narrowed his vision until he reached the arena’s edge, greeted by jeers:
“That’s the hunter!”
“Arrogant brat! Sector 50 trash challenging our boss?” Rage.
“Who’ll win?”
“Cedric, obviously! How’d you beat that monster?” Excitement.
“The hunter’s no pushover. I’ve seen him fight.”
“But his leg’s crippled! Match is decided already.”
“We’re just here to watch the outsider get pulped!” Fleeting pity.
The air already simmered.
Spectators’ mana vessels glowed fiery reds and yellows.
Ray’s gaze flicked upward—two boys perched on the highest crates. Likely Zephar and Lawson, rival gang leaders.
“Well? Open it.”
“Huh? O-oh.”
Creak!
Drums shifted, creating a path.
Inside waited a familiar figure.
“Alone? You came alone? Breaking our deal?” Cedric snarled.
Thick crimson mana streams already connected his ring to his heart.
Screeeech!
The entry sealed behind Ray.
“Relax. He’ll arrive on time.”
“Five minutes till start. If that coward’s late, I’ll rip you apart!”
Bloodshot eyes.
Twitching limbs.
Cedric resembled a starved feral dog—far worse than last week.
Prolonged ring exposure?
“Do as you like if Philip doesn’t come. Tear me apart. Grind my bones.”
While speaking, Ray tried severing Cedric’s mana tether.
Useless.
The cord now resembled a laundry line—thick, thrashing, unbreakable.
‘Have to remove the ring directly.’
Difficult, but not impossible.
Cedric had grown stronger, but so had Ray.
“Three minutes left. Till your body becomes scraps.”
“I know. The duel starts sharp.”
Ray’s gaze drifted past the drums to a boy frantically taking bets:
“30,000 silvers on Cedric!”
“Same here! Put me down for—”
The sums dwarfed typical wagers, yet Cedric dominated the ledger.
“Dammit! Everyone’s backing Cedric! No profit even if we win!”
“Might’ve bet on the hunter if not for his leg...”
The paltry sums on Ray reeked of pity.
“Still, gotta bet something. Even mouse-tail amounts add up.”
“We’re not here for coin! We came to watch the arrogant bastard crumble!”
Truth.
While gambling added spice, today’s main attraction was watching an outsider’s humiliation.
Creak──
Newcomers interrupted.
“More spectators?”
“But seats are full...”
The crowd stirred, then gasped.
“Is that Philip?”
“Since when do hotel rats get invites?”
“No way. They’d never dare.”
Philip entered in his wheelchair, flanked by hotel boys.
Cedric spread his arms theatrically:
“Quiet! Quiet! Our honored guest has arrived! After the duel, we’ll have a special show!”
He flicked fingers, signaling Philip’s group forward.
Squeak. Squeak.
Wheel squeaks pierced the tense silence.
“Insolent bastards...”
“Shouldn’t overstep their place...”
Hotel boys hunched under the crowd’s scorn.
Their black-tinted mana vessels betrayed fear—all except Philip, whose vessel shimmered with courageous amber.
“One minute left! Once the bell—”
“I’ll place a bet.”
Philip’s interruption stunned the crowd.
“The duel hasn’t begun.”
Snap.
He opened his briefcase.
“2.24 million silvers. All on Ray.”
The air froze.
A briefcase crammed with cash.
Philip overturned it, raining bills.
Thud. Thud-thud.
“My life’s savings. All legitimate.”
(Technically including Ray’s funds, but details mattered little now.)
Thump!
The final bundle fell.
“I called it first! No takebacks!”
“Fuck! I’m betting everything on Cedric!”
“Me first! My bet’s first!”
Chaos erupted.
Crash! Bang!
Collapsing crates. Trampled spectators.
The frenzy raged as bet-takers got mobbed.
Cedric stared incredulously at Ray.
“Your doing?”
“Half.”
“Pathetic stunt. Fine by me—recruits should contribute.” He wheeled on the bell-keeper. “Ring it already! Time’s up, damn it!”
Dong!
“DIIIIE──!!”
Cedric lunged, fist aimed at Ray’s face.
Whoosh──!
Ray sidestepped, griping Cedric’s forearm.
‘Faster than before.’
He trapped the limb, elbow poised to snap bone.
‘Injuries are unavoidable.’
No alternative to ring removal.
The first gem responded.
Huum──
Enhanced strength locked Cedric’s arm in place.
One strike would shatter it.
Ray drove his elbow down.
Crack──!
Impact imminent──
“RAAAAH──!”
Cedric’s roar coincided with inhuman force.
Ray released him, stumbling back.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He regained footing, eyes locked on Cedric.
‘The mana tether’s thicker.’
The cord now pulsed like a bleeding artery.
“Your leg works fine! That injury was fake! Knew it!”
Cedric’s cackles shook his frame.
“Fun! This is fun! Finally—someone worth killing!”
Sickly yellow mana seeped into Cedric’s vessel.
Excitement.
The same thrill tinged Ray’s own mana.
Combat’s addictive rush—separate from duty or intent.
Especially against a worthy opponent.
Huum─!
Ray activated his second gem.
Gang members scrambled around the drums.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from opened lids.
The arena became an inferno.
The factory’s air boiled.
As scorching as the fighters’ resolve.
